Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

“Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD comes in a variety of forms but is most commonly characterized by a subject's obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.” It’s important to distinguish OCD from other type’s anxiety, like routine tension and normal stress that appear throughout life.

“Obsessions are thoughts and ideas that the sufferer cannot stop thinking about. Common OCD obsessions include fears of acquiring disease, getting hurt or causing harm to someone. Obsessions are typically automatic, frequent, distressing, and difficult to control or put an end to by themselves. People with OCD who obsess about hurting themselves or others are actually less likely to do so than the average person.”

Compulsions differ greatly from obsessions; they do these rituals over and over, in an effort to make a particular obsession go away. “Most OCD sufferers are aware that such thoughts and behavior are not rational, but feel bound to comply with them to fend off fears of panic or dread. Because sufferers are consciously aware of this irrationality but feel helpless to push it away, untreated OCD is often regarded as one of the most vexing and frustrating of the major anxiety disorders.” The reason this is the most frustrating to the sufferer is because with no help, the disorder becomes a lifestyle, rather than a ritual. People who suffer from the separate and unrelated condition obsessive compulsive personality disorder are not aware of anything abnormal with them; they will readily explain why their actions are rational, and it is usually impossible to convince them otherwise. People who suffer with OCPD tend to derive pleasure from their obsessions or compulsions. Those with OCD do not derive pleasure but are ridden with anxiety. This is a significant difference between these disorders.

There are many example of OCD such as, brushing your teeth over and over, washing your hands too many times, refolding and refolding your clothes. One man from California had many problems with OCD. He worked a normal job, had a normal girlfriend, and family, his problem however overpowered him often. Every morning he would wash his hands over and over again until he did it exactly right. He brushed his teeth exactly 12 times. He kissed his fiancй over and over until it was exactly right. And last he would wiggle the door knob over and over to make sure it was locked. One could imagine what would happen when he got in the car.

Even though this man suffered from OCD, doesn’t mean there is no hope. He went under a treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This treatment is a combination of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. He did this 3 times a week, and eventually overpowered his OCD. Even though this worked for him, doesn’t mean it works for everyone. Others who aren’t fond of such therapy often use a pill form to fight off this disorder. Many of these medicines often include antidepressants, and sadly wear off if the patient stops taking the product. “Hallucinogens, such as psilocybin” has been the most successful so far though. The main reason for this is because these involve pain killers, this is why they are not recommended and are not yet available over the counter. Neuropsychiatry is the last major type of treatment for OCD. It involves medical treatment of the brain, mainly the receptors, which play a big part in OCD. Even though this is expensive it has shown improvements and is second to only Hallucinogens as far as length without OCD rituals goes.

“There are many different